&#34;ab&#34; air brake piston dismantling apparatus



Dec. 16, 1941.v K 1 R UNDEQOTH' 2,266,559

AB AIR BRAKE HsToN- DISMANTLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec- 16,` 1941 J. R. LINDROTH v 2,266,559

AB AIR BRAKE PISTON DISMANTLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatented Dec. 16, 1941 AB AIR BRAKE PISTON DISMANTLIN G APPARATUS Joseph R.. Lindroth, Galesburg, Ill.

Application January 23, 1939, Serial No. 252,286

6 Claims.

paired; the object of the invention being to provide apparatus whereby the pistons and associated springs and elements may be easily released and removed without injury and the piston with its associated elements after cleaning or repair, to be readily assembled and inserted in the cylinders.

A further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus whereby the dismantling and re-assembling ofthe cylinder, piston and associated elements may be accomplished by a single mechanic in a comparatively short space of time.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of the piston holding and pressure releasing portion of my improved apparatus, with portions broken away and showing an assembled piston with its nonpressure head in initial position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows with certain support mechanism in normal position.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the apparatus with a non-pressure head, piston and spring in position for re-assembling with centering guide on piston sleeve.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View of my improved piston-sleeve centering guide.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View of my improved apparatus with the piston and non-pressure head reversed from the position shown in Figure 1 and of my improved packing cup removing tool applied.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the packing cup removing mechanism of my improved apparatus with a portion of the handle broken away.

My improved apparatus is especially intended for dismantling the pistons of what are known as the AB air brake cylinders in order to permit proper inspection, cleaning and lubricating and to enable the easy re-assembly thereof; the main portion of the apparatus as disclosed in the specific embodiment comprising a main vertically disposed body portion l5 adapted to be secured at its upper end to a suitable ledge or work table of which a portion is shown at I6 and having a horizontally disposed foot portion I1 which rests on the floor i8. This foot portion is shown provided with a downwardly extending cyilnder I9 arranged in the licor as shown in Figure 1, with the bottom of the cylinder connected by means of pipe with a suitable source of pressure medium, namely a compressed air supply for raising the piston 2| slidably mounted therein. The piston rod 22 is disposed through the cylinder closure member and guide collar 23; while the outer end of the piston .rod is provided With a head 24; the normal position of the piston rod and its head being shown in Figures 4 and 6.

The upper end of the main frame or standard l5 has a rotatable jaw or holding means secured thereto; said means consisting of a disc or plate 25 pivotally secured at 26 to the main frame to rotate vertically. The disc or plate 25 has a pair of jaw forming elements 21, 28 in the form of horizontally disposed, substantially U-shape ilanged plates; the lower plate 2l being bolted lor otherwise secured to the disc or plate 25 at 29,

while the upper plate 28 is bolted or otherwise secured to plate 2l so that its main portion is in slight spaced krelation with the main portion of the plate 21, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The disc 25 at diametrically opposite points, is provided with holes yadapted to receive the spring controlled pin 3l for locking the disc in its rotated positions; the pin 3| being controlled in any suitable manner, as for example by the hand lever 32' tiltably secured on the rear side and adjacent the top of the main frame or standard l5, see Figure 2.

Arranged against the forward face of the main frame member I5 and disposed vertically is a supporting member 33, preferably inthe nature of a flange plate whose upper end is centrally dished or cut out, and adjacent opposite longitudinal sides is provided with forwardly disposed lobes 34, 34 intended to constitute supporting ledges for the piston to be operated on or cleaned; the lobes 34 being spaced apart suiiiciently to provide, in conjunction with the cut-out portions, a passage for the head portion 24 at the upper end of the piston-rod 22 of the power operated jack. The supporting member 33 normally extends parallel with the main frame portion I5 (see Figure 6) and is limited in its outward or forward swinging movement at the top by the pivotally mounted bolt 35 which extends through a hole in the main frame l5 and has its end provided with a nut, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 6. The lower end of the supporting member, at an intermediate point, is provided with a downwardly disposed arcuate lip 36 engaged by a coil spring 31 whose opposite end presses against the main frame I5 and tends to hold the upper end of the supporting member 33 in the normal parallel relation with the main frame I5 as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6. The lower end of supporting member 33 is pivotally mounted at 38 to suitable lobes or bracket members 33 secured to the main frame I5. The pivot 33 at one end is provided with a foot pedal 4I) whereby the upper end of the supporting member 33 is swung outwardly against the action of spring 31 when pedal 40 is depressed.

Secured about the collar or member 23 and disposed upwardly thereabove is a substantially semicircular piston-receiving holder and centering member 4I, of somewhat skeleton and conical form tapering toward the bottom, as more clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4.

My improved apparatus, as previously stated, ,is more especially intended for use in connection with the well known type of AB air brake cylinder piston which is provided at one end with a non-pressure head as shown at 42, of cone-shape and flanged at itsinner or flared end, while the reduced end has an opening for passage of the piston rod sleeve and constitutes a guide for the sleeve 43 of the piston 44; the sleeve 43 normally extending slightly through the opening in the non-pressure head 42, with the extended end of the sleeve provided with lubricator rings generally indicated at 45 and with the piston rod sleeve protector ring 46; the former being secured to the head 42, while the latter is nonmovably secured to the piston rod sleeve. The piston rody sleeve is surrounded by a usual c oil spring 41 whose one end seats within the nonpressure head 42 while the other end seats against the inner face of the piston 44.

These air brake pistons lperiodically must be removed from the air cylinders for the purpose of inspection and cleaning and also in the event of repair, at which time it is necessary to remove the non-pressure head 42 from one end of the air cylinder thereby withdrawing the piston 44 and associated parts therewith from the cylinder.

To enable dissociation of the piston from the non-pressure head, it is necessary to provide means whereby the non-pressure head will be firmly held while the piston is moved toward the head, against the action of the spring, to permit the piston rod sleeve to extend sufciently beyond the head to thereby relieve the pressure and permit the removal of the piston rod sleeve lubricating and protector rings and ring retainer plate at the outer end of the sleeve. It is for this purpose that my improved apparatus has been designed. After the non-pressure head and associated piston have been removed from the air cylinder, the flange of the non-pressure head is slid in between the jaws 21 and 28 at the upper end of the apparatus, namely the jaws which are secured to rotatable plate 25 which is locked in position by the spring control latch pin 3 I. After the non-pressure head has been inserted in the manner described with the associated piston positioned as shown in Figure 1, the air jack, consisting of air cylinder I9, piston 2l, piston rod 22 and its head 24, is then operated by admitting air to the cylinder I9 causing the jack to be elevated and inducing the head 24 to press upwardly on the piston 44 against the action of the spring 41 suiciently to force the upper end of the piston sleeve 43 above the recess in the non-pressure head 42 to enable removal of the piston rod sleeve protector elements or rings 45. The supporting member 33, by pressure on pedal 4i), is then swung outwardly at its top to bring its lobes 34 beneath piston 44; the lobes 34 being disposed to opposite sides of the path of the head 24 of the air jack. The air jack may then be lowered, allowing piston 44 to rest on the supporting member 33, at which time the end of the piston sleeve 44 will be ilush with the bottom of the recess or opening in the non-pressure head 42 to permit the easy removal of the composite element 45, consisting of metal rings, a felt ring, felt compressor ring and swab container. At the latter mentioned elements are all a part of the Well known AB type air cylinders and form no part of my invention, these elements are not specifically shown and described. If the air piston rod sleeve does not require cleaning, or any of the parts to be repaired, a further lowering of piston 44 is unnecessary as suicient cleaning of the lassembly can be done with the piston resting on the supporting element 33.

If, however, it is necessary to entirely remove the piston rod sleeve and spring, the supporting element 33 is allowed to remain in its normal position parallel with the main frame I5, and piston 44 allowed to recede with the receding air jack until the piston 44 enters the semi-circular holder 4I at the bottom of the apparatus. The elements 45, which are removably mounted in the end of the non-pressure head 42 may then also be removed. When the jack with the superposed piston 44 has been lowered, the piston 44 with its sleeve and encircling spring will be entirely removed from the non-pressure. head 42 and the piston 44 seated in the holder 4 I, as shown in Figure 4. The holder 4I is open at its forward side to permit piston 44 to be laterally removed therefrom to enable the coil spring to be removed from the piston rod sleeve, thus permitting the sleeve to be thoroughly cleaned, rust removed and the sleeve polished; while the non-pressure head 42 will be held in the jaw elements at the upper end of the apparatus, as shown in Figure 4.

After the cleaning and polishing operation has been performed, or repairs made, the piston with its coil spring 41 is then replaced in the holder 4I.

In order to prevent injury to the end of the piston rod sleeve and to the non-pressure head 42 during re-assembly and to ensure a proper centering of the piston rod sleeve 43, I employ a centering element 48 shownin detail in Figure 5. This centering element is in the nature of a cylindrical block chamfered at its lower end to permit it to fit into the sleeve 43; the upper end of the block being coned or of arcuate formation and provided centrally with a handle portion 49 also of arcuate formation, as clearly shown in Figure 5. This centering element 48 is placed on the end of the piston rod sleeve 43 before the spring 41 is replaced about the sleeve, as shown in Figure 4. lThe air jack is then operated so as to force the piston and sleeve upwardly sufficiently to have the free end of the sleeve `43 protrude beyond the top of thenon-pressure head 42 in order to permit replacing or re-assembly of the elements 45 and 45.

The piston 44 on its outer perimeter is recessed and flanged to receive a channeled metallic ring 50, which seats on the ilange of the piston 44 and one channel thereof provided with a lubricant saturated felt ring; and this channeled ring is held in place on piston 44 by a vwhichinduces the curled perimeter at one side yieldable packing cup or annular cap I which fits over the entire outer face of the piston 44 and is provided with a curled perimeter which snaps Yinto the recess in' the piston outer face, as shown in VFigures 1 and 6.

In order to replenish or replace the lubricating element it is necessary to remove the firmly held packing cup 5| without damaging the cup or the perimeter of the piston 44.

After the piston 44 has been reassembled as previously described, with the non-pressure head 42 held in the jaw members 21, 28, and after the jack has been lowered, the locking pin 3| is retracted' so as to release the rotatable jaw carrying member or plate 25. The plate 25 may then be rotated into the position shown in Figure 6, with the non-pressure head 42 disposed downwardly and the piston 44 disposed upwardly where easy access thereto may be had for application of my improved packing cup removing mechanism shown in Figures 6 and 7.

This mechanism consists of a substantially semi-circular member 52 provided with an inwardly disposed flange 53 which is adapted to engage within the vacant channel or groove of the lubricator or channeled ring 5l! disposed beneath the curled perimeter of the packing cup 5|, as shown in Figure 6. As member 52 is substantially semi-circular, it may be readily slid edgewisely about the packing cup 5I with its ange 53 within the vacant channel or groove of the double channeled ring or lubricator 50, as shown in Figure 6. The member 52 is provided with the spaced apart, upwardly sloping arms 54, with their free ends disposed toward one side of the vertical axis of the piston and packing cup; the ends of the arms being formed to receive the end of a hand lever 55 therebetween; the hand lever being pivotally held by bolt 55.

The lever 55 at a short distance removed from its pivotal point is provided with a fulcrum or packing cup engaging means 5l pivotally secured at its upper end at 58 to the lever 55. The means 51 preferably consists of a clevis member 5'!a which straddles the lever and is pivoted thereto, while the lower end is preferably provided with a threaded shank onto which a cup member 5lb is screwed to permit adjustment; the cup or socketed member 5lb being provided with a rubber cushion or plug 5lC for engagement with the outer face of the packing cup 5I.

In order to guide the mechanism and induce the semi-circular flange 53 to enter the groove or channel in the lubricator ring 55, I provide the device with a substantially semi-circular band or strip 59 which is secured by small brackets 60 to the upwardly sloping arms 54. The strip or band 59 is arranged at a slight tilt upwardly toward the open side of the device to accommodate itself to the arcuate formation of the piston head and packing cup; the band 59 being arranged at a distance above the flange 53 of the member 52 commensurate with the distance between the open or vacant channel in lubricating ring and the tcp of the cup 5l. The strip or band 59 rides onto the top of the packing cup thereby aligning the flange 53 with the groove or channel in the lubricator ring 5E. The member 52 is slid completely about one-half of the piston and cup, causing the fulcrum member 5l to engage with the center of the cup. The lever is then pressed downwardly, thereby causing the flange 53 to exert upward pressure on the lubricating ring 55 located beneath or adjacent the curled edge of the packing cup ofthe cup to slip out of the recess or groove in the piston and completely releasing the cup and allowing the lubricator ring 5i) to be lifted off the piston. With this device removal of the cup V5I can be easily accomplished without iniury to the cup or to the piston.

v My improved apparatus enables a single operator to easily dismantle the piston and associated elements of the AB brake cylinders at present in` use for purposes of cleaning, lubricating and repair and to also reassemble the same into operative relation with the non-pressure head of such cylinders; and while the exempliicaton shown and described is believed to be the best embodiment of the invention, modifications in certain details are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for dismantling a non-pressure head and piston assembly comprising an upright frame; a vertically disposed plate pivotally secured at its center on a horizontally disposed axis carried by the upper end'of said frame so as to permit rotation in a vertical plane; laterally extending jaw forming elements rigidly secured to said plate and open at the forward side to slidably receive the flanged end of the nonpressure head of an air brake cylinder with the associated piston suspended therefrom; a power operated jack mounted at the bottom of said frame for forcing the piston rod sleeve through the non-pressure head to permit removal of the piston rod sleeve lubricating and protector ring elements; and a piston supporting member pivotally secured at its lower end to said frame to permit its upper end to swing outwardly adjacent the path of the vertically movable jack.

2. A dismantling apparatus comprising an upright frame; a vertically disposed jack secured to the bottom of said frame substantially parallel with the vertical median line of the frame; a segmental and upwardly flaring receptacle secured to the bottom of the frame concentrically with said jack; a vertically disposed plate r0- tatably secured to said frame; and slo-tway providing members secured to said plate with their ends disposed laterally from said plate in spaced relation to receive a non-pressure head therebetween.

3. A dismantling apparatus comprising an upright frame; a lift jack secured to the lower end of said frame; a vertically disposed plate pivotally secured to said frame; U-shape brackets secured to and disposed laterally from said pivoted plate, said brackets being arranged to provide a horizontally disposed slot therebetween; and means for locking said plate in its adjusted positions.

4. An apparatus for dismantling a non-pressure head and piston assembly comprising an upright frame; a vertically disposed jaw carrying head adapted to hold the non-pressure head of the piston of an air brake cylinder; means pivotally securing said head to the upper end of said frame so as to rotate about a horizontally dis posed axis; a vertically movable power jack mounted at the bottom of said frame and adapted to force the pressure head of the piston upwardly toward the non-pressure head, and releasable means cooperating with said frame and plate to hold said plate in selected positions and against rotation.

5. An apparatus for dismantling a non-pressure head and piston assembly comprising a stationarily mounted upright frame; a vertically disposed pl-ate; means pivotally securing said plate at its center to the upper end of said frame so as to rotate in a vertical plane; horizontally disposed jaw forming elements eccentrically mounted on said plate in spaced relation and open toward the forward side of the apparatus to slidably receive the flange of the non-pressure head of an air brake piston; and a pressure medium operated jack mounted at the bottom of said frame adapted to engage the pressure head of the piston.

6. An apparatus for dismantling a non-pressure head and piston assembly comprising an upright frame; a vertically disposed plate; means rotatably securing said plate at its center to the upper end of said frame; horizontally disposed jaw forming elements eccentrically mounted on said plate, for engaging and holding the nonpressure head With assembled piston whereby the rotation of said plate will swing an assembled piston through a vertically disposed arc to reverse the position thereof; releasable means cooperating with said frame and plate to hold said plate in selected positions and against rotation; a pressure medium operated jack secured to the bottom of said frame to move toward said jaw carrying plate; and piston centering means secured to the bottom of said frame about the path of said jack.

JOSEPH R. LINDROTH. 

